Laurinqueidae Breedy, McFadden, Murillo-Cruz & Quattrini 2026, fam. nov.

作者：Odalisca Breedy, Catherine S. McFadden, Catalina Murillo‐Cruz, Ana‐Belen Yánez‐Suárez, Katleen Robert, Andrea M. Quattrini · 发表于：Open MIND · 年份：2026 · DOI：10.5281/zenodo.21070088 · 研究领域：Ichthyology and Marine Biology、Cephalopods and Marine Biology、Oceanographic and Atmospheric Processes

FamilyLaurinqueidae Breedy, McFadden, Murillo-Cruz & Quattrini fam. nov. Type genus. Laurinque gen. nov. Diagnosis. Octocorals with a proteinaceous axis. Axis dark brown with a hollow, cross-chambered core surrounded by concentric layers of gorgonin; coenenchyme thin. Colonies erect, large, irregular-flabellate, reaching more than 1 m tall and 1.2 m wide. Branching throughout the colony irregularly lateral, dense, and occasionally anastomosing. Longitudinal furrows present along stem and branches. Polyps monomorphic, tubular and conspicuously elongated, especially at the base of the colony. Polyps partially retractile into the coenenchyme, producing short cylindrical or dome-shaped mounds arranged all around the branches and closely placed. Polyp sclerites are tuberculate rods and spindles arranged as points; collaret inconspicuous; tentacles and pharynx with rods. Sclerites of coenenchyme are rods and spindles with simple or complex tubercles; axial sheath with rods and radiates. Colonies bright yellow when alive, brownish when preserved or dry. Sclerites pale yellow. Azooxanthellate.